165,000 smokers kick the habit as smoking ban becomes law

Almost 165,000 smokers managed to give up around the time of the smoking ban last July - a rise of a more than a quarter on the previous year.

More than nine million British adults still smoke, but research has shown that the proportion has fallen from 24 to 22 per cent of the population.

The latest figures come from the Information Centre for Health and Social Care, which collects statistics on behalf of the Health Service.

It revealed that the number in England setting a "quit date" with NHS Smoking Services between April and September 2007 was 29 per cent higher than in the same period the previous year.

Those who were still cigarette-free at a follow-up appointment four weeks later also rose by 28 per cent.

Smokers who quit without seeking help from the service were not included in the figures.

England was the last country in the United Kingdom to introduce a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces.

It came into force on July 1 last year, and research has shown that bar and pub workers are already beginning to feel the health benefits.

Doctors hope that the reduction in the number of English smokers will be mirrored by a drop in heart attacks, as has already happened in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In the summer of 2007, 327,800 people in England set a date to give up the habit.

When followed up, half of the group had been successful in quitting.

Evidence suggests that even those who have not managed to give up are now smoking less.

Three-quarters of those setting a quit date received only nicotine replacement therapy from the NHS.

A further 10 per cent received the drug Champix - the most successful anti-smoking aid - while 4 per cent used the drug Zyban.

The remainder either did not receive any help giving up, or did not report what they used.

The cost of the services per quitter was £164, compared with £181 during the same period in 2006.

Tim Straughan, chief executive of the institute, said this research provides the first feedback since the smoking ban was introduced.

"It shows more and more smokers are accessing NHS Stop Smoking Services and many of these are successfully kicking the habit," he added.

Betty McBride, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "While smoke-free legislation is primarily about protecting workers' health, it is heartwarming to know that the ban is also having an effect on the number of people who smoke in England.

"Quitting smoking is still the single biggest thing a smoker can do to avoid a heart attack."